The players were taken aback by Ethan's assertiveness, and they were stunned by his decisive actions.
For most of the squad, Sam Parker was seen as the only reliable striker in the team. Before Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin had the chance to prove themselves, their teammates were courteous but skeptical about whether two players from amateur leagues could make an impact in League Two.
Even assistant coach John Aston shared this concern. He worried about the dynamic between Ethan and the team's established striker.
After a long day of training, John sought out Ethan.
"Shouldn't you be with your wife tonight, John?" Ethan joked as he tidied his desk.
These days, he was practically living in his office. Having just taken charge, there was plenty of work to do.
The squad had already begun defensive drills, and in a few days, they would shift focus to attacking tactics. Ethan's offensive philosophy revolved around quick counterattacks, while in settled play, he planned to rely on wing play and long-range shooting from the edge of the penalty area.
At this stage, Ethan didn't have the kind of players needed to execute intricate tactical systems. Instead, his priority was securing points in the most efficient way possible.
After all, the club had started the season with a 30-point deduction. Although Ethan always appeared confident, he was well aware of the enormous challenge ahead.
But he had no intention of staying in League Two for long—his goal was promotion.
He had never shared this ambition with anyone. If he openly declared his target as promotion despite the 30-point deficit, people would think he was delusional. Survival in the league was already a monumental challenge.
Yet, Ethan saw things differently. He had four players in his squad with the potential to establish themselves in the Premier League in the future. Vardy would go on to win the Golden Boot, and N'Golo Kanté would become one of the league's best defensive midfielders. While these players were still developing, they had enough quality to dominate League Two.
This was Ethan's unique advantage—his ability to foresee talent a decade ahead. He had identified several hidden gems who would go on to become superstars.
Though they weren't at their peak yet, his scouting instincts—sharpened by experience—confirmed that Vardy and Kanté were already more than capable of thriving in the fourth tier of English football.
Luton's preseason training continued methodically, with Ethan refining every detail of the team's setup.
One pressing need was to strengthen the squad with a target man who could be an aerial threat off the bench, as well as a commanding center-back to improve the team's defensive structure. Ethan relayed these requirements to the scouting department.
As training sessions progressed, John Aston and the rest of the squad began to acknowledge the quality of the players Ethan had brought in. Luton's defenders, in particular, had experienced firsthand the clinical finishing of Vardy and Austin in training matches. It quickly became apparent that these two were far superior to Sam Parker.
Parker, once regarded as Luton's main striker, was now an afterthought—and eventually, he was offloaded by the club.
When it came to finding a high center-forward, Ethan recalled a game from the 2012-2013 FA Cup. In the fourth round, Liverpool suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat to League One side Oldham Athletic. Oldham's towering striker, Matt Smith, had scored twice and left a lasting impression on Ethan.
Standing at 198 cm (6'6"), Smith was a dominant aerial presence, reminiscent of Peter Crouch. He had the physical attributes to excel in lower-league football.
After Oldham's famous victory, then-Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers even labeled him the "White Drogba."
However, Smith never quite made a name for himself in the higher divisions, and Ethan had lost track of his career trajectory.
Following a report from the club's scouts, Ethan discovered that at this point in time, Matt Smith was playing for Port Vale in League Two.
After negotiations between both clubs, Port Wilhelm agreed to Luton's proposal to exchange Sam Parker for Matt Smith.
Up front, while the squad remains somewhat thin in attacking options, the arrival of Smith provides some much-needed depth for Ethan. Relying solely on Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin for an entire season would have been a serious risk, leaving the team vulnerable in case of injuries or loss of form.
The next priority is strengthening the defense, specifically signing a central defender. However, at this level—League Two—finding a quality center-back who meets Ethan's requirements is a major challenge. While he is aware of several young defenders who will become stars in the future, most of them are already highly rated and out of Luton's reach. Competing against Premier League or even League One clubs for defensive reinforcements is a battle Luton simply cannot win given their limited resources.
If securing a new center-back proves impossible, Ethan must work with his current squad and establish a reliable central defensive partnership. Apart from George Parker, Luton's other center-backs are of a similar level—young and relatively inexperienced. At such a crucial position, talent alone isn't enough; match experience is vital. Without it, trusting a player in high-stakes matches becomes difficult.
After careful deliberation and analysis of the squad's performances in training, Ethan finally settled on his preferred starting XI and backup options.
He put down his pen and rubbed his bloodshot eyes. While the center-back position still feels like a weak link, the overall squad looks strong for a League Two side, particularly in midfield and attack. Despite some regrets, Ethan refuses to make a rash £100,000 signing just for the sake of filling a gap. Every pound is crucial for Luton, and if they are to spend, it must be on a top-quality player.
Reviewing his work from the past several hours, Ethan allowed himself a satisfied smile. He checked his watch—9:15 AM. Training would start in fifteen minutes. Having arrived at the office at 4 AM, he had put in a grueling shift to ensure everything was in order.
Straightening his collar, he splashed cold water on his face to refresh himself, determined to approach the day's training with full focus.
Just then, an assistant entered.
"Mr. Ethan, there's a young player named Jeffrey Bruma here to see you."
"Jeffrey?"
Ethan was momentarily surprised before his face lit up with excitement.
It seemed that Luton's final piece of the puzzle for the season was about to fall into place!